Options for Accessing the 2 Taxprep Programs September 2017

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1 Options for Accessing the 2 Taxprep Programs September 2017 NOTE: The Arts Computing Office (ACO) recommends that students experiencing installation problems try the remote desktop option instead. However, you can visit the Arts Computing Office s Help Desk in PAS 1077 (ext , acohelp@uwaterloo.ca). The Taxprep computer expert is Marco DiGiacomantonio from ACO. We will be using two Taxprep programs, Personal Taxprep 2016 and Corporate Taxprep They are free. There are 3 ways to access them: Local installation, i.e., installing the program on your own device. Using a virtual environment. This means running a remote desktop app on your device, which connects to the version of Taxprep installed on a UW Windows server. Use Windows Computers in the public computing labs in PAS 1080, 1098, 1099 and To find the software, choose Arts, then Accounting, and then CCH. Choosing between the first and second options: - Local installation makes sure that you have access to the program anywhere, even where there is no internet access (such as some inter-city buses). - Local installation is usually a bit more time-consuming. A TA reports that it took her about 5 minutes to download each of the two Taxprep programs. - Taxprep is Windows software. For a Mac, local installation would require first installing Virtual Box (which is readily available, but many people find difficult to install). The virtual environment route bypasses this problem since Taxprep does not have to be installed on your device. The options are explained further below. Note that there is a LEARN discussion board on computer issues relating to access to Taxprep software. The Arts Computing Office will provide replies to any postings. Local installation To install the Taxprep software on your device (most likely a desktop computer or laptop), download the 7z (compressed using the 7-Zip software) files for the Taxprep.exe files from LEARN and double-click to de-compress the files. These files have been created to install the software in student labs, so after you give permission for the software to make changes to your computer, there are no further messages. The software just installs itself. In case this doesn t work, I have also provided the normal software installation files provided by the publisher. The activation key for each of the 2 programs is provided as part of the file name you have downloaded. Known installation problems - Some students have a Chinese-language version of Windows. The error message in this case is often that the activation key is incorrect, which is a bogus message. In that case, go to Control Panel, then 1

2 Region, and change the language to English. Install the software, and then change this setting back to whatever you want. - Some Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers also give the same error message about an incorrect activation key, even though they are running a normal version of Windows. In that case, go to Control Panel, then User Accounts, and then dial down the User Account Control Setting to the minimum. Then install the software, and restore this setting to the previous position. Here are some common problems people have reported: Issue I downloaded the file and installed it but every time I try to run it I just get a message saying that Taxprep is configuring etc Solution Taxprep is already installed. Delete the installation file from your downloads folder and search from the Start menu to find the actual program. A good idea would be to pin the programs to your taskbar or desktop. I downloaded the installer but I can t open it The installer is compressed into a 7zip file. Download 7zip and Open with the file using it. Then run the installer from the created folder. Accessing the virtual environment using the remote desktop app PC users There are two situations: If you are on campus and connected to the Eduroam wireless network, just save and run the appropriate.rdp file (one for Personal Taxprep 2016 and one for Corporate Taxprep 2017). These files can be downloaded from LEARN. o If your PC is running a version of Windows earlier than Windows 8, you might wish to download and install RDP 8.1 on your computer to obtain better performance: If you are off campus, you will need to establish a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection with UWaterloo before you can run the.rdp files. Establishing such a connection requires that a VPN client (Cisco AnyConnect) be installed on your computer. See the following website for details: Once the client is installed, click on it and enter the following site to connect to: When prompted to enter credentials, enter nexus\userid (for userid, fill in your own WatIam userid) as your username and your WatIAM password. (This is a significant difference from most other access to computing/network resources on campus, as one would normally just enter userid, without the nexus\ at the front.) It is important to make sure you can open files downloaded from LEARN, as you will want to access the Taxprep homework problem solution files posted on LEARN. See the end of handout for help with this. 2

3 Accessing the virtual environment using the remote desktop app Mac users (including ipads) There are two situations: If you are on campus and connected to the Eduroam wireless network, just run the appropriate.rdp file (one for Personal Taxprep 2016 and one for Corporate Taxprep 2017). These files must be created on your computer using the instructions below. If you are off campus, you will need to establish a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection with UWaterloo before you can run the.rdp files. Establishing such a connection requires that a VPN client be installed on your computer. See the following website for details: Once the client is installed, click on it and enter the following site to connect to: The details about setting up the RDP files are given below. Change the default security settings: - Click the Apple menu, and select "System Preferences": - In the top row, click on "Security & Privacy": 3

4 - Select the General tab at the top, then look for the section titled "Allow apps downloaded from". Unlock and change to Anywhere. 4

5 If you don t have Microsoft Remote Desktop, get it from Apple Store - Click the Apple menu, and select "App Store": - Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop: 5

6 - Click on Free - Click on Install App 6

7 - If you are asked for your apple ID and password, enter it, and click continue: - You should see installing, once it s installed, click on Open : - Open Microsoft Remote Desktop. The first time you run it you will probably see a dialog similar to the one below. Click "Don't show this again", then click "Close", as shown: 7

8 - You should see the main Microsoft Remote Desktop app window. You won't see anything just yet; we need to configure it. To start, click "Remote Resources", as highlighted below: - In the URL Field, type " then use nexus\userid and password and click "Refresh". In the User name field, enter nexus\uw userid (userid being what you would use for Quest or LEARN). 8

9 - When the Remote Desktop window opens, click on the Remote Resources pane. You should now see all the resources that you have access to. - The Next time you log on, just search for Microsoft Remote Desktop in Launchpad and the above window may appear (if you are in other courses with remote software, there may be additional software listed, like SPSS). Click and run the appropriate Taxprep. - For both opening and saving files, you should have access to your local hard drive. I am not quite sure what the pattern of naming local drives is, but one showed up as home on v1020- wn

10 - It is important to make sure you can open files downloaded from LEARN, as you will want to access the Taxprep homework problem solution files posted on LEARN. See the next section of handout for help with this. Remote Desktop Users (Windows and Mac) - Opening solutions files in Taxprep - A common problem with Taxprep remote desktop users has been opening the solution files. - The answer is to map or connect your Nexus (N:) drive to your computer and save files in a folder in there (N:\Desktop, N:\Documents, etc.). Your N: drive is the location of all the files you save when you are on a lab computer (that you would log into with your uwaterloo credentials). - The following link provides instructions on how to map your N: drive (for Arts students only): Note: If you are trying to save files to your N: drive off-campus, you will need to use VPN (like you would for opening Taxprep by remote desktop off-campus). If you are not in Arts, contact ACO. - Windows users: Every time you go to This PC, your N: drive should show up under Network Locations (it will contain your UWuserid and N:. You can make a shortcut of it on your desktop by right-clicking on it and clicking Create Shortcut. - Save files to a specific folder in your N: drive, not just the N: drive itself. For example, Desktop or Documents. They may first have to be first saved somewhere on your computer, then moved into the N: drive in a specific folder. - Now when you run Taxprep and open files by File->Open, you can use the scroll menu on the middle-top of the File Explorer to pick your N: drive. It is usually the last location on the very bottom of the list (will contain your UWuserid and N: ). 10